Alonzo s



,A. S. GEAR. Pym-Canceling Device.-

Patented. May n, 1880.

INVENTOR WITNESSES ATTORNEY )LPETERS. PHOTO-UTHOGRAPMER, WASHINGTON, D O.

AreNr ALONZO S. GEAR, OF NEYV YORK, N. Y.

PYRO-CANCELING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 227,423, dated May 11, 1880.

Application filed J annary 13, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALONZO S. GEAR, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Pyro- Oanceling Devices; and 1 do hereby declare that the following, taken in connection with the drawings which accompany and form part of this specification, is a description of my invention sufficient to enable those skilled in the art to practice it.

This invention relates to an improved arrangement of devices for the cancellation of postage and revenue stamps by heat.

The object of said improvement is to provide a cheap and effective instrument whereby said cancellation can be done expeditiously.

The invention consists in a canceling device with a reservoir'handle and a pipe connecting it with the burner, and having wicking material therein, which absorbs and conducts burning-fluid contained in the handle of said instrument to a metallic wick, where said fluid becomes heated and volatilized, or partially so, prior to its exit from the burner, around which said volatized fluid is burned.

It also consists in an auxiliary pipe for conducting air to and within said burner, where it mingles with said volatilized burning-fluid for supportingcombustion within and outside of said canceling-die burner, said air being conducted from a blower, or from some means for forcing it through a flexible or jointed pipe to the above-mentioned instrument for canceling postage and revenue stamps, and for other similar purposes.

Figure 1 is a sectional view of my handlamp canceling device. Fig. 2 is a detached sectional view of an improved canceling-die with the die-burner shown in Fig. 1 connected therewith. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a detached printing and canceling die-burn er. Fi Lis a plan view of the lower section of the burner, showing the position of the flanged hollow type. Fig. 5 is a view of the face of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a view of a flanged hollow type. Fig. 7 is a face view of the same.

Fig. 1 represents a sectional view of my improved pyro-canceling device, in which A is the hollow handle thereof, said handle being made of suitable material for holding burning-fluid, which may consist of hydrocarbon E being the face thereof, and e perforations in the sides from which the volatilized liquids escape.

H rcpresents'a wire-gauze wicking extending from or near the end of the face of the burner E through the fitting D and to a point near the bend where the offset commences in pipe 0. From thence a cotton or other fibrous wicking extends through the fitting B, including the opening in plug-cock J, to the handle A, where it absorbs and conducts the fluid in a semivolatilized state to the wiregauze, where it becomes completely volatilized by the conductive heat within said gauze, after which it escapes from the orifices e, where itis burned.

The flow of the liquid from the handle is regulated by the plug J, which, on turning, compresses the wick, which passes through its orifice and retards the action or flow of said liquid. By said means the liquid can be entirely stopped ofl' when desired.

The pipe F is for the purpose of conducting air from some suitable contrivance or mechanism to fitting l), or an equivalent thereof, where it becomes mingled with the gas arising from the volatilization of the liquid derived from the handle, thence passing through the burner, where it is ignited and decomposed, thus furnishing heat to heat the die end of the burner, for the purposeof producin g scorched or burned impressions on postage-stamps and for other like purposes, whereby the fraudulent use of stamps which have been once used is prevented by said scorched cancellation.

The burner E is provided with two screwthreads, to and g. Screw-thread gis turned into fitting D, as shown by dotted lines, while transferable burners are turned onto screw a, as shown in Fig. 2.

These hand-lamp stamps are designed to be used where gas is not attainable, or where it is more economical to burn volatile fluids than gas; but in case gas is procurable and burning-fiuid is not, the flexible tube G can be attached to a gas-burner, or its equivalent, and conduct gas to burner E, where it is burned; and also when fluid is burned the die E can be heated with or without mingling air with the gas prior to its exit from the burner.

The burners shown in Figs. 2 and 3 are made in two principal parts, K and L, and are screwed together, as shown. The lower section, L, is constructed with two annular walls, which are connected at their bottom edges by an annular plate, on which are cut, stamped, or otherwise secured thereto letters, figures, words, or designs, which are represented by c and d in the several figures, (I being two annular projections, V-shaped in form, for imprinting a hair-line; or they can be made with a flat surface for making a broader line,

if required. These projections have notches or nicks therein, and when an impression is made a dotted or dashed line is the result. \Vhere the nick occurs the paper is not scorched, whereby the imprinted part is kept from falling out whenever the impression happens to be scorched too deeply. The top edge of the extension of the inner wall is secured to the bottom of an inverted cup, K, the side or wall of which projects downward into the space formed by the two said annular walls. The edge of said cup or section K does not quite reach to the bottom of the said annular space. An opening is cut through the bottom of cup L, through which the flanged type are inserted, as shown in the figures. Said flanges project from the feet of the type and rest upon the flange formed by the opening in the bottom of section L, and are held in position by a follower or disk, h. which forms a part of the upper section, K. This disk is provided with orifices f, through which gas is emitted from thence downward around the lower edge of the This form, after being prepared, is kept in the solution until the thickness of metal required is deposited, after which it is taken out, the form removed, whence it is completed ready for the market.

For postmarking and other analogous purposes I prefer to combine the type in word form, as shown in the several figures. When used for printing with ink the flange i should be dispensed with.

The two sections K and L, I make by the electrotype process, or by depositing copper of the desired thickness on a proper form and then remove the form and cut the necessary threads thereon. These parts can be cast of suitable metal. I. do not limit myself to the form as shown and described, for any desired form can be used without departing from the principle of my improvements herein described.

I am aware that wire-gauze wicking has been used in connection with burners of various kinds and for various purposes for heating and volatilizing fluids prior to their combustion. To all such devices I lay no claim.

There are several parts, consisting of hollow type and die-burner with inner and outer chamburning-fluid prior to the combustion thereof,

for the purpose described.

2. In combination with a pyro-canceling device, consisting of a pipe provided with a canceling-die for making scorched impressions, and reservoir for holding burning-fluids, the auxiliary pipe F and tube G, for the purpose section K, and thence upward to the open air, 1 specified.

where it is burned.

The type can be made solid or hollow; but when made hollow I make them by depositing copper onto a form made of rubber or other equivalent material coated with plumbago.

ALONZO S. GEAR.

Witnesses JOHN BLEWITT, A. VANCE. 

